Are roof jacks an acceptable means of fall protection for residential roofing contractors?
Under very specific conditions, roof jacks (slide guards) can be used as part of a fall protection plan in lieu of conventional fall protection. Residential contractors are permitted to use alternative methods of fall protection where it is infeasible to use conventional means (29 CFR 1926.501(b) (13)). Where infeasibility is demonstrated, the contractors can implement a fall protection plan, as specified in section 1926.502(k). (A sample plan is provided in Appendix E of subpart M.) In addition to the options mentioned above, in 1995 OSHA published an interim fall protection compliance policy for certain residential construction activities (STD 3.1). Recently, a plain language re-write of the same interim enforcement policy was published. Instruction number STD 3-0.1A reiterates OSHA’s policy that alternative fall protection methods, such as slide guards, can be used during certain roofing activities. STD 3-0.1A specifies that slide guards must be constructed of 2×6 (nominal) stock lu
